What is an open floor plan?
Just as the name suggests, a home with this type of layout has one or more large, open rooms that function as multiple rooms within a single living space. The most common is a “great room” that combines the kitchen, dining room, and living room in one shared space.
These floor plans usually work extremely well in homes with less square footage – sometimes out of necessity – while larger homes have more leeway to work with when integrating great rooms into a floor plan.
Traditionally, homes built pre-1990s were designed with lots of separate rooms in mind, even though many of these distinct rooms were really only separated by three-quarters of a wall and an open walkway – most often the kitchen, dining room, and living room.
The mindset was that the more rooms a house had, the more attractive, compartmentalized, and functional it was. But designers and homeowners alike started realizing that homes with open floor plan designs could fit more usable living space into the same amount of square footage.
Advantages of Open Floor Plans
Fast forward 20 years, and spacious homes with fewer walls are more popular than ever.
More social time. The person cooking or cleaning in the kitchen can converse with people in other rooms.
Keep an eye on the kids. Great rooms allow parents to cook and do other household duties while their kids play in the same room.
Increase views and natural light. The removal of interior walls allows sunlight from windows in the exterior walls to permeate throughout the house.
Better for entertaining. When guests are over you can be part of the group while you cook and serve food at the same time.
Advantages of Closed Floor Plans
Closed floor plans offer a larger number of smaller sized rooms that can provide privacy and organization.
More privacy. Many households have people contending with different ages and schedules, from babies to teenagers and grandparents or nannies that all live in the same home. Enclosed spaces may work better in a house where everyone needs their space.
More walls for artwork. If you are an art enthusiast and need ample space to display your favorite works you will need wall space. Also, depending upon the delicacy of the work, direct sunlight may damage the art. In this case, walls are a good thing!
Easier to clean/contain messes. You may prefer an enclosed playroom for kids or rooms with doors that can keep messes out of the main rooms, making you look and feel like a better housekeeper.
Noise doesn’t travel as far. Open floor plan designs have more acoustics and cause noise to travel further, while extra walls can help contain and limit noise.
Specialty rooms. More rooms means more separate spaces dedicated to individual uses, such as home offices, art studios, craft rooms, workout rooms, and guest rooms.